Why Run It: Mild temperatures, averaging around 54 degrees, and a flat course make this marathon ideal for runners with time goals. You'll start and finish in downtown Houston and run miles 2 through 25 in the city's outskirts without noticing the barely-there elevation change (25 feet). Roughly 10 percent of the field qualifies for Boston--the most out of any big city marathon (other than Boston itself). Beware the chance of humidity, though--it can reach up to 95 percent on race morning.

Why Run It: The point-to-point course starts outside Dodger Stadium. The route then takes a sightseeing tour through L.A. hotspots, including Hollywood and Chinatown, finishing by the beach in Santa Monica. Mixed in with the tens of thousands of runners and hundreds of thousands of spectators, you may spot a celeb or two. Chef Gordon Ramsay, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin have all crossed the finish line, among many others.

Why Run It: The world's oldest annual marathon is also one of the toughest to get into. You will either need to clock a qualifying time or nab a highly coveted charity bib, which comes with a $5,000 fundraising minimum. But once you've secured a spot, you'll tread over 26.2 miles of running history. On the point-to-point course from the suburb of Hopkinton to the Boylston Street finish line, thousands of spectators celebrating Patriots' Day will guide you. You'll especially need their support near mile 20, the start of the infamous half-mile long Heartbreak Hill.

Why Run It: Portland might be the perfect first-timer event. It offers a mostly flat course with a not-too-big but not-too-small field. The average race-day temp hovers around 55 degrees, and the course shows off the city's waterfront and runs near the trendy Pearl District. The route also features more than 85 local bands, DJs, and cheerleading squads. Expect stellar swag--in addition to a race T and medal, finishers get a pendant that can fit on a keychain or necklace, and a tree seedling, which symbolizes the race's commitment to the environment.

Why Run It: In this point-to-point course, you'll tour two cities for the price of one. The race starts in downtown Minneapolis, then crosses the Mississippi River into St. Paul, where you'll finish at the State Capitol Grounds. The course bills itself as the most beautiful urban marathon in the country, and it might just live up to the hype; the route loops around four lakes and parallels the river, giving runners a nature fix in the middle of two big cities.

Why Run It: There's not a single spot on the course without spectators, as 1.7 million of them line Chicago's streets to encourage runners. The course winds through 29 neighborhoods, giving you a run-by tour of can't-miss spots like Wrigley Field, Chinatown, and Lake Michigan. (Learn more about the Windy City's best running route, the Chicago Lakefront Trail.) Don't forget to snap a photo in front of the famous Bean--a giant reflective sculpture shaped like a legume--after the postrace party, which takes place in the 319-acre Grant Park.

Why Run It: Nicknamed the "Marathon of the Monuments," the race offers a comprehensive tour of Washington, D.C.'s most iconic sites, including Georgetown, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial. Starting and finishing in Arlington, Virginia, the route crosses over the Potomac River and winds its way through the nation's capital, all while 150,000 spectators--including many servicemen and women--cheer you on. You won't be alone if you're a first-timer; more than a third of the field make their marathon debut here. (Want to run this race? Sign up through the Runner's World Challenge!)

Why Run It:The New York City Marathon is the largest in the world. The course provides a tour of all five boroughs, from the start on Staten Island to the finish in Manhattan's Central Park--that is, if you can get in. (If you did, check out Bart Yasso's course tour.) To register you'll have to sign up for a lottery (which has historically opened in January), where odds of getting an entry are less than 20 percent. Or you can apply for one of 8,200 charity bibs, which typically come with a fundraising commitment of $2,000 or more. If you do secure a spot, expect more than a million spectators to cheer you through the finish.

Why Run It: Channel your inner Rocky as you run by many of the famous sites featured in the movie--including, of course, the iconic steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum, in view of where the race starts and finishes. The first half of the course winds through the city's historic colonial downtown, before turning off on an extended out-and-back along the Schuylkill River. At mile 19 you'll enter the small neighborhood of Manayunk--don't be surprised if revelers at the bars lining the street offer beer to help power you through the final stretch back to the city.

Why Run It: As the name suggests, the race runs along the shores of Lake Ontario. The field size is small for a big-city marathon, and although it occurs alongside a half marathon, the course will give you plenty of room to nail a time goal. Be aware that distance is marked in kilometers, so Americans may have to do some mental math to gauge pace. (Free pace bands are available at the expo to help.) Runners rave about the finisher's medals, which feature a gold engraving that highlights a Toronto landmark each year.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Runner's World participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.